5 Recommended Apps For Beginner Auto Mechanics

The cost of auto repairs can run into the thousands of dollars for big jobs like engine and transmission rebuilds and replacements. Learning how to fix your car yourself can save you lots of money and give you a tremendous sense of satisfaction as well. Even taking ownership of routine maintenance tasks like oil and transmission fluid changes, brake jobs, and radiator flushes can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle.

While a good set of sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, and a handful of specialty tools like torque and impact wrenches are necessary for any shade tree mechanic, one tool that shouldn't be overlooked is your smartphone. There are lots of iPhone and Android apps that can help guide you through auto maintenance and repair tasks and gradually turn you from a novice into a seasoned gearhead. 

I have been working on my vehicles for more than 30 years, and I drew on my experience with those projects and combined that knowledge with existing app store user reviews to pinpoint the most helpful smartphone apps for anyone interested in working on their car or truck. Here are five you should download before taking on your first project.

Another valuable app you'll want to install if you plan on working on your vehicle is the one from 1A Auto. 1A Auto is a parts distributor located in Westford, Massachusetts, but their iPhone and Android apps provide troubleshooting guides, detailed step-by-step tutorial videos for thousands of common repairs, and a list of check engine light codes along with a portal for ordering parts from their warehouse. If you order before 2pm Eastern time on a weekday, your parts will ship that day for delivery as early as the following weekday. 

The video guides on 1A Auto's site are a gold mine of valuable information. Unlike the amateur tutorials you'll find on YouTube, the videos on 1A Auto's apps are hosted by professional mechanics, meaning you can trust that you're getting the best guidance from properly trained experts. The 1A Auto apps also have links to purchase tools, paint, fluids, shop supplies, and pretty much anything else you might need to repair or maintain your car or truck.

While 1A Auto has been selling parts online since 1999, its mobile apps are only about a year old. Nonetheless, I find their video guides to be very accurate and helpful in eliminating surprises for jobs I haven't done before.  

The iOS app has an average rating of 4.3 stars out of five from only 35 reviewers, and the Android version has an average rating of 4.0 stars from a little more than 100 users to date. Android app user Jacob Yannis gave that version a perfect five out of five stars and wrote, "Loving everything about the app! Thanks to everyone at 1A Auto!"

Buying used parts is a good way to save money and contribute a little bit to the nationwide effort to recycle old cars. Car-part.com has offered consumers a way to search auto salvage lots (please don't call them "junkyards") by make, model, part, and location since 1998. The site also has free Apple and Android apps offering that same search function. 

Search results include contact information for the salvage yards where your desired parts can be found, along with pricing, a grade for the part's condition, and sometimes photos of the salvaged vehicle. I have used car-part.com to locate used parts for over a decade, and their database has almost always proven accurate. However, it's only as good as each facility's willingness to keep it updated, so it's a good idea to call ahead and verify that a part is available before driving a long distance to one of the listed yards. 

The app is easy to navigate and has always worked for me without issue, although it only has an average rating of three stars out of five from less than 150 Apple store reviewers. The main complaint is that the app doesn't offer any functionality beyond the website itself. Android users are more satisfied with their version, with more than 800 reviewers scoring it an average of 4.1 out of five stars. An Android user named None Sone gave it a perfect score and a rave review, writing, "The best app out there! I found the part I needed at the very 1st attempt. Easy to use and even sorts the availability by distance, providing you with contact information."